To A Hero!
Posted on 10/23/2003 6:58:14 AM PDT by aegiscg47
LEADERSHIP: Medal of Honor Awarded for Iraq Action
October 23, 2003: In today's world, it's easy to lose sight of the fact that one man can make a difference. Paul Ray Smith is on the way to becoming the first serviceman to receive the Medal of Honor since MSG Gary Gordon and SFC Randall Shughart fought their last battle in Mogadishu on October 3, 1993.
During Operation Iraqi Freedom, SFC (Sergeant First Class) Smith was a platoon sergeant/acting platoon leader in the 1st Brigade's B Company, 11th Engineer Battalion attached to the 2-7 Task Force. Bravo Company was in contact with Saddam's forces nearly every day during the second phase of the campaign. After a pause below As Samawah and Karbala, the drive on Baghdad from the south carried the 2-7th into Saddam International Airport.
On the morning of April 4, the Task Force was inside of the airport and several enemy soldiers had been captured, so a containment pen had be to quickly built. There was a wall 10 ft tall paralleling the north side of the highway, on the battalion's flank just behind the front lines. Smith (whose callsign was 'Sapper 7') decided to punch a hole in it, so that the inside walls would form two sides of a triangular enclosure and the open third side could be closed off with rolls of concertina wire.
Smith used an armored combat earthmover to punch through the wall and, while wire was being laid across the corner, one of the squad's two M113s moved toward a gate on the far side of the courtyard. The driver pushed open the gate to open a field of fire, revealing between 50 and 100 enemy soldiers massed to attack. The only way out was the hole the engineers had put in the wall and the gate where the hardcore Iraqis were firing.
What happened next was equal to Audie Murphy's legendary World War II heroism. Iraqi soldiers perched in trees and a nearby tower let loose with a barrage of RPGs and there were snipers on the roof. A mortar round hit the engineers' M-113, seriously wounding three soldiers inside. Smith helped evacuate them to an aid station, which was threatened by the attack as well.
Smith promptly organized the engineers' defense, since the only thing that stood between the Iraqis and the Task Force's headquarters were about 15 to 20 engineers, mortarmen and medics. A second M113 was hit by an RPG, but was still operational. Dozens of Iraqi soldiers were charging from the gate or scaling a section of the wall, jumping into the courtyard.
Smith took over the second APC's .50-caliber machine gun and got the vehicle into a position where he could stop the Iraqis. First Sergeant Tim Campbell realized that they had to knock out the Iraqi position in the tower and after consulting with Smith, led two soldiers to take the tower. Armed only with a light machine-gun, a rifle and a pistol with one magazine, the trio advanced behind the smoke of tall grass that had caught fire from exploding ammunition.
Smith yelled for more ammunition three times during the fight, going through 400 rounds before he was hit in the head. Shortly before taking the tower and gunning down the Iraqis inside, Campbell noticed that the sound of Smith's .50-caliber had also stopped. Campbell figured Smith was just reloading again.
The medics worked on SFC Smith for 30 minutes, but he was dead.
According to the citation, his actions killed 20 to 50 Iraqis, allowing the American wounded to be evacuated, saving the aid station and headquarters (as well as possibly 100 American lives). Fellow soldiers credit Smith with thwarting the advance of well-trained, well-equipped soldiers from the Special Republican Guard, which was headed straight for the 2-7 Task Force's headquarters (Tactical Operations Center), less than a half-mile away. The battle captains, commanders and journalists huddled at the operations center were trying to protect themselves against tank fire and snipers in the nearby woods They had no idea about the possible onslaught of Republican Guard from the nearby complex.
Smith, a veteran of the 1991 Persian Gulf War, was a 33 year old from Tampa, Florida. He left behind a wife, a son and a daughter.
Memorials to SFC Paul Ray Smith, online at: http://www.fallenheroesmemorial.com/oif/profiles/smithpaulr.html http://www.sfcpaulsmith.com/.
He will be remembered by those who count, however. And may those who would willingly ignore him be his servants in Valhalla.
RIP SFC Paul Ray Smith
~SFC Paul Ray Smith~
As a combat vet from the Nam I can assure you that this happens on a regular basis in War. The cowards that won't defend their country spit on the grave of the men that do. But, when the crud starts getting thick, it's the brave, the true, and the strong that repel the enemy. If you don't want these brave men to die invane, you'll publish this story all over the net and push it to the leftist press. The commies in this country and the leftist press lost Vietnam for us (the Johnson administration helped). We better get on this, or the lefties will do the same thing to this war. I'm am NOT going to let that happen. How about you?
God bless all of our soldiers who go into harms way. May Smith's family be comforted as he has gone to a better place.
Yes and maybe Mikie Moore will make a movie about a true hero such as this man!
The Victoria Cross ranks with the George Cross as the (UK's) highest award for gallantry.
The first British medal to be created for bravery, the Victoria Cross was instituted in 1856, with the first recipients being personnel honoured for their gallantry during the Crimean War.
The bronze Cross, which bears the inscription "For Valour", is cast from the metal of Russian guns captured at Sevastopol during the Crimean campaign.
It is awarded "for most conspicuous bravery, or some daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice, or extreme devotion to duty in the presence of the enemy.
You are the man SFC Smith, thank you and may you rest in peace.
CPT Samuels
author of 'War Poems from Iraq'
To demonstrate our up most for ones who were awarded the CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR. Please let us refain from the words such as WINNER. People win the lottery or horse shoes.I was diredctly involved in the preporation for this highest award for a dear soldier who saved my life. M.O.H. recipients deserve highest respect from all americans. Because of their actions our freedom rings out loud and clear. The media and i are not real buddies. How ever i have learned to use this free advertisment. Don’ come down on them too hard. There are many things I’m sure of in my life that i am ignart of. I recently found out that March 25th in National MEDAL OF HONOR DAY. May I recommend You all read two books if you would like to know the truth obout this Grand Medal #1 BEYOND GLORY By Larry smith. #2 HEROES By Barrett Tillman. Thanks for your respect for our Real Heros. I recently purchase d five books referencing this subject. at a very good price fomm amazon. I am in the process of alerting all news stations in reference the 25 th of march. I hope i can make it in time. Sure could use some help.
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